"Our policy was always to have a good and friendly realtions with everyone. But we never have accepted being oppressed and we will never accept it."-Achmed Shah Massoud, Afghan National Hero

Grand Ayatollah Saanei´s statement

His Excellency Grand Ayatollah Sannei`s statement in relation to the current issues in Iran:The respected, noble, and dear people of Islamic Iran,

During these later days, we have all been witness to attacks on universities, students’ dormitories, inflicting grievous bodily harm, death and the imprisonment of a large number of the children of this land so much so that based on the official reports, about twenty people have been killed and more than a thousand imprisoned, and moreover, we were also witness to the broadcast of the confessions made by a number of those taken into custody, through restricted and exclusive media. To say the least, it is evident that these confessions taken while in captivity and under critical conditions, are religiously, legally, and logically invalid and worthless.

Nevertheless, such deceit and oppression should not cause despair and hopelessness in the people’s path to standing up for their religious and legal rights and in their endeavor to ensure sovereignty over their own destiny since man’s losing hope of God’s blessings is not only a mortal sin itself, but it also contradicts God’s promise of victory given to Muslims: “Look! Allah’s help is near!”

And how can this be denied while, despite all shapes and forms of news blockades, from restricting news websites to closing of newspapers and arresting political and media activists and even the disruption of short messages, the public and indeed the whole world has become increasingly aware of the recent events which is in itself a reflection of the informed and calm movement of the great and noble people of Iran?

It is our hope that the path of defending the rights of the people, and the safeguarding of their religious beliefs and ideas specially those of the young, and the protection of the Islamic Republic shall continue with the same dignity, intelligence, and awareness, while safeguarding the security of the nation by taking advantage of the constitution, in the real sense of the word, and not giving the oppressors any room for excuse or pretexts for such actions. Resistance is the precondition of success. And how could this not be so while the candidates, his Excellency Hujjat al-Islam Karrubi, a loyal disciple of the late Imam and our noble friend Mr. Mousavi, protesting the procedure and outcome of the elections and also the stance of the Council of Guardians, have questioned and negated the legal and political legitimacy of the government in their statements, which shows their dissatisfaction and that of a large number of the population who has expressed its doubt and misgivings concerning the election, which will in turn reduce popular backing and support for the government and may consequently lead to legal and civil protestations and chaos?

To end, I hereby warn all the forces who have as their duty the protection of people’s lives and property, that no order and command can be issued that could authorize or give justification or jurisdiction to transgress or violate the people’s unquestionable civil and religious rights. Any such action is forbidden and is a sin, and thus unforgivable, let alone to cause grievous bodily harm or kill the people which deserves both worldly and other worldly punishment and retribution.